ne of the music therapists who had the opportunity to speak on the subject at the City of Knowledge was Melanie Taylor. She teaches courses on music therapy at the Specialized University of the Americas (UDELAS), and is also a writer and violinist.

Music therapy plays an important role in educational and therapeutic fields, plus it is excellent for relaxing.

In the workshop she led, Melanie explained that music therapy has both active and passive methods. In active, patients must participate by making music or in a nonverbal activity with music, whereas in passive they only have to listen to music to achieve  different purposes. For example, group singing as a therapeutic activity is often used with patients who have suffered strokes or have respiratory problems or dementia, since it facilitates their development of articulation, sense of rhythm and control of breathing, while helping them socialize and realize that they are not alone.

As for playing instruments, she explained that this develops their gross and fine motor skills and helps improve coordination in patients with motor problems, neurological or cranial trauma or prolonged illness. If in a group, it allows the players to take on leadership and other roles. Rhythmic activities encourage an improved range of motion, agility, strength of joints, balance, coordination, form of walking and relaxation.